|
Government of
Canada announces funding to help resettle refugees in Hamilton
Hamilton, June 20, 2008
— Mike Wallace, Member of Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the
Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today
announced funding to help refugees settle and succeed in Hamilton.
Settlement and Integration Services will receive more than $730,000 to
assist up to 320 refugees in beginning their lives in Ontario. This is in
addition to the more than $14.5 million announced since April for
Hamilton-area settlement services, such as language training and assistance
in finding a job, which refugees are also able to access.
“Canada
is a blessed country, and the Government of Canada is committed to helping
those truly in need begin their new lives in Canada,” said Minister Finley.
“As we celebrate World Refugee Day, these services will help them along
their journey. The hopes and dreams they bring with them will help build a
richer and stronger Canada.”
World
Refugee Day, which falls on June 20, is an annual opportunity to honour the
courage of the millions of refugees and displaced people around the world.
The
funding announced today is provided through the Citizenship and Immigration
Canada (CIC)
Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP),
which offers financial support and immediate and essential services. These
services include help with temporary accommodation, assistance in finding a
permanent home, help with such items as banking, managing a household and
other everyday tasks, and referrals to federal and provincial programs.
“Refugees
need support as they settle in to the community,” said Mr. Wallace. “That’s
why the Government of Canada supports the work of organizations like
Settlement and Integration Services, which provide the concrete help that
newcomers need.”
“The RAP
is an innovative way to successfully settle and integrate
government-assisted refugees into their new communities across Canada,” said
Morteza Jafarpour, Executive Director of Settlement and Integration Services
in Hamilton. “The new RAP
funding not only enables us to continue to build on this success, but also
to make Canada a leader in the international humanitarian commitment to
protect refugee families and children.”
For
2008–09, CIC
has set aside $18.5 million under this program to help refugees in Ontario.
In total, more than $49 million has been set aside under the
RAP
to assist in the resettlement of refugees across Canada except in Quebec,
which is funded under the Canada-Quebec Accord.
The
resettlement services are in addition to settlement services and programs
funded by CIC
to help all newcomers, including refugees, settle and integrate into their
new communities. Through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, the
Government of Canada has increased funding for these broader settlement
services by $920 million over five years. In 2006, the Government of Canada
began investing an additional $1.4 billion over five years in settlement
funding in provinces and territories outside Quebec.
Settlement and resettlement services are an essential part of the federal
government’s immigration program. They help immigrants and refugees overcome
barriers specific to the newcomer experience and are key to supporting their
longer term economic and social integration.
Canada resettles 10,000 to 12,000 refugees from overseas every year. This
represents 10% of the 100,000 refugees resettled globally. In 2008, Canada
will welcome 7,300 to 7,500 government-assisted refugees through the
RAP
and 3,300 to 4,500 through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Tim Vail
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Karen
Shadd
Media Relations Spokesperson
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
|
